Junior B Lions, 40 year reunion this weekend

It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years, but it has. And this weekend players who were members of the former Ottawa District Junior B Hockey league’s championship Morrisburg Lions teams of the mid-1970’s will be in town to catch up on old times.

They won’t be wearing their skates, although some are still playing hockey at the oldtimer level, but they will be picking up golf clubs in a get-together at the Morrisburg Golf Club.

Some are coming home from quite a distance and all are hoping that their old friends and fans will join them Friday evening (July 17 at 7 p.m.) at a meet and greet, and/or Saturday afternoon (after 1 p.m.).

Most are playing in a scramble fun golf tournament beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and they will be sitting down to a dinner at about 5 p.m.

In between organizers Jeff “Skunk” Cassell and Jim “Sudsy” Whelan say there should be some good hockey tales being told.

Cassell who was one of two players (with Bob McNairn) who played on four consecutive Gill Cup winning Lions team in the mid-seventies, says he has been able to contact almost everyone who was on the 1975-1976 squad and many are coming home for the 40 year reunion (including Bob “Rookie” McNairn from Mississippi, U.S.A. and goaltender Donnie “The Cat” McNairn from Oshawa).

The 1975-76 team started the puck rolling on the way to the Lions competing in four consecutive Ottawa and District league championships for the Citizen Shield. They became the first Morrisburg team to ever win an ODHA Junior championship with a 10-4 victory over the Hawkesbury Hawks in game seven of the championship series after eliminating the Gananoque G-Men in five games for the Southern Division championship. They defeated the Cardinal Broncos in five games for the Gill Cup win.

In the 1976-77 season, the Lions again went all the way to the championship, this time bowing to the Renfrew Lions in five games. They won the South Division championship when they defeated the Gananoque G-Men in seven games to advance to the final.

The Lions were back on the ice with eight rookies in the 1977-78 season. This time they went to the final and defeated the Richmond Royals in four straight games to have their names engraved on the Citizen Shield for the second time in three years. They eliminated the Kemptville 73s, also in four straight games, to win the South Division Championship and the newly introduced Valcour-Collison Trophy.

It is the players on the three squads, from 1975 to the end of the 1978 season, who will be home this weekend.

During this time the team was owned by the late John Rice, and his wife Ruth is planning to attend the reunion to present the Lions number 11 retired sweater for display at the Morrisburg arena. Retired in honour of the four captains who guided their teams to the four ODHA finals, Mrs. Rice only recently discovered the actual sweater in her late husband’s hockey collection.

The four captains, Chuck Lawlor, Doug McNairn, Bob “Rookie” McNairn and Rob “Wrapper” Reynolds are all expected to attend the reunion.

Reynolds wore the captain sweater in the 1978-79 season when the Lions lost in the ODHA final series to the Ottawa South Canadiens.

In addition to the players, many members of the coaching staff are expected, including Ken Morrow Jr., Brian McNairn, Stan Mabo, Mike Felker and Richard Baker.

Organizers Cassell and Whelan, have attempted to contact all players, and have asked that if anyone has been missed to please contact them, and to please plan to attend.

As well they are hoping that friends and fans (the 7th game against Hawkesbury played in Morrisburg was attended by just under 2,000 people) will drop by the Morrisburg Golf Club for a little old-time hockey talk.

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Three senior men’s teams travelled to Cornwall last Wednesday for their last friendly bonspiel of the season.

Unfortunately, our Cornwall hosts were not as friendly as they might have been on the ice. Refreshments before the game were great, (love that syrup for the coffee) and the lunch was superb, but our fellows had trouble getting the points they needed during their matches.

For the record, Martin Schneckenburger, Sam Locke, Bud Perry and Larry Ware, Al Harriman, Ron Beaupre, Keith Robinson and Eric Johnson, as well as Wally McDonald, Rick MacKenzie, Fred “Boomer” Langlotz and Earl Jeacle were able to claim free drinks from their opposite numbers in their games.

It was a very pleasant day, however, ending with heart-felt good wishes, and the usual humorous anecdotes prior to the drive west. We look forward to more of these friendly matches next season.

There were also three senior mixed teams in Kemptville on Friday. This was a 222 bonspiel, with Mahlon Locke, Kathy Norg, and Sam and Claire Locke being our top team. They lost their first match against North Grenville, had a very good lunch, and then went out in the afternoon to triumph over one of the Navan foursomes.

Wally McDonald, Ruth Kelly, “Boomer” Langlotz and Joanne Baker tied their first match against Lynne Stacey’s Navan team but dropped their afternoon game against Richmond.

The ice was problematic for all, but a couple of the rocks were “cutters” (I’ve been watching curling on television and heard about TSN’s “secret word”) and this threw off our athletes. I’m told that in one game, nobody on either team got a rock over the hog line in an early end. We really love what our ice technician has done for our curling.

Our final team, Keith Robinson, Alice Thompson, Rick MacKenzie and Sandra Beckstead, dropped tight matches to old friends from Manotick, the Froats team, and also lost to Lynne Stacey from Navan. Lynn finished third on the day behind Alexandria.

All in all, it was a good day for our teams, with sunshine outside, pleasant hospitality inside, and modest prizes for all.

By the way, the final two-person bonspiel last Sunday featured Wally McDonald in the ‘A’ final rather than Wally Baker. Sorry for the error, fellows.

As to our little rockers, they had their windup night last week, and have come a long way this year, finishing in the middle of the pack in their zone playdowns with Ottawa, Cornwall and Perth. They also did extremely well in their first play down experience. Next season they’ll be a year older, and we look forward to great curling for them.

There are still a few openings for the early draw in our closing bonspiel on April 6, and for those not curling but wanting to come for the closing banquet around 6 p.m., don’t forget to sign up on the sheet in the lounge.

We’ll have a summary of the year’s events, and a final look at what to expect at our club over the summer. The club championship will be competed for after the closing banquet, and we’ll look forward to events in the fall.

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Last week the hockey community was saddened to learn of the death of Morrisburg Junior B Lions franchise owner Ron Casselman at his home in Morrisburg on Tuesday, November 13. Mr. Casselman purchased the Morrisburg Junior B Lions in 1980, and so began 32 years of dedication to the game he so loved and the young men he mentored.

As in keeping with what Ron would have wanted, the Lions’ scheduled game against the Char-Lan Rebels on Friday night went on as planned. His granddaughters Kasey, Kari and Katie dropped the puck to officially open the game, and his grandson Cody coached the game with former Lions coach Thom Raccine on the bench for support.

At the end of the game, which the Lions won 8-4, in honour of a man they greatly respected, the players skated to the overhead box where Ron would be found at most every Junior B Lions game, for one final salute. In fact, each time they scored that night, they skated to Ron’s box.

The following is a speech written and presented Friday night by Thom Raccine who has been a member of the Lions coaching staff and worked closely with Ron for the past several years.

“Before our game tonight, the Lions are honouring the memory of our owner and biggest fan, Ron Casselman, who passed away on Tuesday.

The Lions and Rebels will dedicate tonight’s rivalry to Ron and his passion for Junior B hockey, by wearing helmet stickers in his honour.

When hockey fans think of the Morrisburg Lions, the image of the stout man with the deep voice is all you really need to know.

Before every game, Ron asked in his jovial deep voice, “what do ya think tonight big fellar?” That voice and that image will never be forgotten.

Ron Casselman’s love of junior hockey began a long time ago, first as a fan, then 32 years ago, when he became the owner of the Junior B Lions. To the many fans of Lions hockey, Ron exemplified what small town hockey teams are about. He revelled in the wins and wore each loss on his sturdy face.

Thirty-two years is an eternity in the hockey business. To have stayed through the tough times is a credit to his love of the game, the people in the league and most of all his players. He really did love the kids, as his own, even if they didn’t know it. Ron Casselman saw hundreds of players. He was proud to say that the fact that they were trying out for his team, meant the world to him.

Ron didn’t always understand the players today, but it never knocked him down. He tried to adjust to our funny ways and although he chalked it up to a different generation, Ron stayed very close to the pulse of what made his teams tick.

Under Ron, the Lions won four St. Lawrence Division titles and two Rideau Division titles. He mentored his son Kevin, from coaching to general manager.

Tonight, in honour of his grandfather, Cody Casselman will be behind the bench, keeping in the family tradition.

Four weeks ago, I sat with Ron in what we affectionately call the owners box. The weight of the world was on his shoulders and there was no doubt something was bothering him. I sensed a distance, a man alone with his memories of a lifetime devoted to his team. Oh he still watched every play and disputed a few calls, but as much as he tried, he simply wasn’t himself.

This morning, Ron Casselman took one last ride by the place he felt most at home…the arena that gave him so much pride.

Tonight, Ron’s owners box sits empty, in honour of a great hockey man.

Tonight, as our Lions get set for another 8:30 start against our rivals from Char-Lan, take a second to glance over to the southeast corner every now and then, because Ron Casselman will be there, big as life, as he has been for the past 32 years.”